Inklingo

How to Say "come on" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “come on” is “vamos” — use 'vamos' when you want to encourage someone to do something, like in a sporting context, or to express impatience for them to get moving..

English → Spanish

vamos

/BA-mos//'bamos/

InterjectionA2Informal
Use 'vamos' when you want to encourage someone to do something, like in a sporting context, or to express impatience for them to get moving.
A fan at a sports game cheering enthusiastically, representing encouragement and excitement.

Examples

¡Vamos, tú puedes hacerlo!

Come on, you can do it!

¡Vamos, equipo! ¡A ganar!

Let's go, team! Let's win!

¡Pero vamos! ¿Todavía no estás listo?

Come on! You're still not ready?

venga

/ben-ga//ˈben.ɡa/

InterjectionA2Informal
Use 'venga' to encourage someone, similar to 'vamos,' but it can also express impatience, especially when urging someone to hurry.
Two storybook children running a race; the child in the lead is turning back and pumping a fist in the air to encourage the struggling second child, depicting 'Come on!'.

Examples

¡Venga, que perdemos el autobús!

Come on, we're going to miss the bus!

¿Nos vemos mañana? — Venga, vale.

See you tomorrow? — Okay, sure.

Bueno, me voy. ¡Venga, hasta luego!

Well, I'm off. Alright, see you later!

amos

/AH-mohs//ˈamos/

InterjectionC1Informal
Use 'amos' primarily to express disbelief or surprise, often in a playful or slightly challenging way, like saying 'Seriously?' or 'No way!'
A friendly person gesturing with their hand for someone to follow them up a grassy hill.

Examples

¡Amos, anda! No te creo nada.

Come on, really! I don't believe you at all.

¡Amos, que se nos hace tarde!

Let's go, it's getting late!

Shortened Words

In very casual speech, Spanish speakers sometimes drop the 'v' at the start of 'vamos,' making it 'amos.'

vamonos

VAH-moh-nohs/ˈba.mo.nos/

InterjectionA1Informal
Use 'vámonos' specifically when you want to urge yourself and others to leave or depart immediately, meaning 'Let's go!'
A colorful storybook illustration showing two simplistic, smiling human figures running side-by-side down a path, suggesting immediate departure or movement.

Examples

¡Vámonos! La película empieza en cinco minutos.

Let's go! The movie starts in five minutes.

Ya es tarde. Vámonos a casa.

It's already late. Let's go home.

¿Están listos? ¡Vámonos de aquí!

Are you ready? Let's get out of here!

A Fused Command

This word is a combination of the 'we' command form of the verb 'ir' (to go) which is 'vamos', and the pronoun 'nos' (us). It means 'let's go ourselves'.

The Missing 's'

For most 'we' commands (like 'sentémonos'—let's sit), you drop the final 's' of the verb before adding 'nos'. That's why 'vamos' becomes 'vámonos'.

Forgetting the accent

Mistake: “Writing 'vamonos' (without the accent).”

Correction: The correct spelling is 'vámonos'. The accent is needed to tell you to stress the first syllable (VÁ-mo-nos) and follow the standard Spanish stress rules.

Encouragement vs. Disbelief

The most common confusion is between 'vamos'/'venga' (encouragement/impatience) and 'amos' (disbelief). Remember that 'amos' is used when you doubt what someone is saying, while 'vamos' and 'venga' are used to push someone forward or hurry them along.

Related Translations

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